Deborah Gilshan | The 100% Club
Deborah Gilshan has over 18 years of experience in investment stewardship.
Her areas of specialism include corporate governance, executive pay, diversity, corporate culture, sustainability and market policy work to protect the rights of shareholders. Ms. Gilshan is a regular commentator and public advocate on investment stewardship and her work has featured in the Financial Times, the New York Times and other mainstream financial media.
Ms. Gilshan is currently an Investment Director in the ESG (environmental, social and governance) team at Aberdeen Standard Investments, the global asset manager, having joined Standard Life Investments in May 2017 prior to its merger. Previously, she was Head of Sustainable Ownership at RPMI Railpen, the pension fund for the UK railway industry, and she started her governance career in December 2000 at the UK's Co-operative Insurance Society. She read Mathematics and English at the University of Manchester and previously worked in corporate tax at Ernst & Young.
Ms. Gilshan is a Fellow of ICSA: The Governance Institute and holds the CFA's Investment Management Certificate. She co-chairs the Investor Group of the 30% Club, the global market initiative to promote diversity in companies. Ms Gilshan chairs the Ethics & Systemic Risk Committee of the International Corporate Governance Network. She was a member of the Steering Group of the UK Financial Reporting Council's project on corporate culture and now serves on the FRC's Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
In October 2011, Ms. Gilshan founded The 100% Club, a multi-sector alliance for professional women that seeks to promote the importance of networking for career advancement and personal development. The 100% Club is based on a philosophy that values the distinctiveness women bring to the workplace and how that distinctiveness drives sustainable corporate cultures that respect diversity in all its forms.
Carmel McKinney OBE | Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
I started my career as a teacher moving through the professional pathways to become a school principal in an area of high deprivation with multiple barriers to learning including underachievement in literacy and numeracy.
Under my leadership the school moved from the lowest percentile ranking in literacy and numeracy to the highest percentile ranking for schools serving similar intake.
I became an Associate Inspector of schools and then changed lanes moving in to higher and further education as a teacher head of department and specialist tutor in dyslexia for which I and my team won the Pearson Teaching Award in 2013.
I became a non executive chairperson of an education and library board with an annual budget of over 200 million and a staff of 5000 and followed this up by another non executive position of a further education college.
In 2015 I realised that the skills and abilities as well as my achievements throughout my career were indeed transferable into an arena which is predominately male - namely a fire and rescue service.
The Minister, through a public appointment process appointed me as the first female chairperson of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service which I feel is an example of breaking a glass ceiling. I am the sole female in the Boardroom and within the top two substantive tiers of the organisation.
Under my leadership I have brought about a number of hugely successful initiatives to promote and empower females to step forward for leadership positions both internal and external to the organisation.
In an organisation of over 2000 employees and around 12% female this has been a priority for myself and my colleagues who support me to drive through the the work in diversity and gender, The impact is evidenced adnd recognised through a number of highly prestigious awards including myself winning the Institute of Directors Non Executive Director of the Year 2018 and NIFRS winning the Guardian Public Services Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2018
Holly Rafique | #techmums
Holly is on a mission to save the world through technology, believing that an understanding of technology is critical to living in the increasingly digital and integrated world.
For children today, digital literacy is as fundamental a skill as reading and writing.
After over a decade as an IT Consultant and developer in Financial Services, Holly took some time out to focus on building Lego and cardboard swords with her two boys, rather than building software systems. Now Holly has rediscovered a life-long curiosity for how things work and is reapplying her skills to new technology challenges and helping others to educate themselves in all things digital.
Holly is currently Head of Digital and Content at #techmums, a non-profit that seeks to empower women, their families and communities through technology. In her role she has overhauled and recreated the #techmums digital skills course to teach Mums, who start with limited tech experience, a range of topics including Blogging, App Design, Web Design, Python Coding and educates them in keeping themselves and their families safe online. Holly has created the physical content, build an online portal to support and enhance learning and created educational videos for an accompanying online course.
Holly has re-trained extensively in diverse areas, including analytics, genetics, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence, to ensure that she is able to normalise prominent technologies and bring them into everyday conversation. Holly is focused on taking every opportunity to demystify technology and remove stigma and stereotypes around technology. In her spare time she works with her children to create videos to encourage children to explore technology and robotics.
Holly is also pushing the agenda on ethical computing - she contributed to a manifesto, by the Women Leading in AI group, recommending regulation and evaluation of algorithms that utilize artificial intelligence solution. This manifesto, containing 10 regulatory recommendations, was put forward to MPs at the House of Commons in February 2018. Holly is passionate that ethical computing should be a core teaching requirement for all computer science courses.
Holly is keen to reframe the question from “How can we get more women into tech?” to “How can we bring more technology into women’s lives?”; encouraging women to consider how digital solutions can enhance the areas they are already passionate about.
Caroline Pegden | TempaGoGo
Following a decade of corporate life, I have co-founded TempaGoGo, an innovative online marketplace taking the pain away from temporary agency recruitment.
After a MsC in Science of Management from HEC Paris, I worked in multiple locations and sectors, starting in strategy with McKinsey & Company in France and the UK, then moving to the fashion industry.
Before joining TempaGoGo, I led a large-scale digital transformation in the UK public sector, exploring how to leverage machine learning at The National Archives.
Numerous facets, but just one mantra - we can do it!
The mum of 2 young children, I'm passionate about encouraging fellow female entrepreneurs and supporting younger women at the start of their careers.
Naomi Jane | A Life Less Ordinary Wanted
Naomi has spent the last 13 years empowering business leaders, founders and under-represented communities to reach their true potential.
She is known for her high impact, positively challenging, holistic approach. Naomi has built a career empowering others to achieve transformative change in their personal lives, organisations and communities.
From a single parent household; she experienced severe school bullying, clinical depression, and the care system before entering turning 18. At 20 she was attacked at knifepoint. To today: graduating from University of London with honours, launching two award-winning businesses, leading various social change initiatives and empowering others around the world to transform their own lives and be the change they wish to see.
A social entrepreneur at heart, she launched her first business whilst studying at university. The 4WD Foundation delivered behavioural change programmes to some of London's most vulnerable young people. Naomi built effective partnerships with brands such as Channel 4 and Google to fund 4WD's social impact projects.
She went on to advise top investment banks and law firms on how to attract diverse entry-level talent and build inclusive cultures. Collaborating with top universities and the City she provided students from under-represented backgrounds with access to life-changing mentorship and work experience. Facilitating leadership development and employee engagement initiatives for corporate clients soon followed. Cross sector, industry leader clients include BP, CBRE, IHG, McDonald’s and Michael Kors.
In 2014 she launched the positive change agency, A Life Less Ordinary Wanted. From FTSE 500 companies in crisis, to individuals at a crossroads, Naomi harnesses emotional intelligence as a coach and facilitator to support her clients to become authentic, empathetic, resilient leaders. Since launching she's built a diverse, experienced, inclusive team who support their clients around the world. Ambitious founders and senior business leaders are supported to build businesses and authentic lives they love.
In 2016 Naomi launched the Social Leaders Programme to offer subsidised Less Ordinary Coaching and Therapy to inspirational founderstackling pressing social challenges around the world such as mental health, domestic violence, women's health & wellbeing and agricultural sustainability.
An engaging speaker on emotional intelligence, authentic living and women in leadership, Naomi energetically and passionately spreads her ‘You don’t have to settle’ mantra. She has spoken at The IoD, for TedX, The RSA and Deutsche Bank.
On IWD, March 2019, Naomi launched AFEMMERA- s global support network for feminine-presenting LGBTQ+ women. After coming out as a member of what is often an invisible minority group, Naomi found that she and fellow femmes face a unique set of challenges within the LGBTQ+ community and the wider world. AFEMMERA intends to empower feminine-presenting queer womxn (cis and trans) to build positive connections, a sense of global community and increase accurate representation through storytelling.
Naomi graduated from the University of London with BSc Hons in Management where she co-founded the original Entrepeneurship Society, Inspire. Since graduation Naomi has continued to advance her learning with WYSE International, Common Purpose, the Coaching Academy and The Psychosynthesis Trust.
In her spare time she seeks balance through meditation, nature, reading, Reiki, travel, yoga and writing poetry.
Cat Trebilco | Reach the Peak
I run my own business as an executive coach who helps women in career transition to discover the best next steps for their future.
After working in the corporate world for 5 years, I decided that life in banking was not for me. I qualified as a coach and went on my own journey of discovery too, deciding to follow my dreams and combine my two passions in life – being in nature and the mountains in order to help people. In 2014, I set up Reach the Peak, running walking-coaching retreats and helping women, through one-to-one coaching and retreats in the outdoors, to discover their own passion in life and find the confidence and courage to go for their dream career.
I also run expeditions around the world, having recently led a team of 12 schoolgirls to Cambodia, sleeping in hammocks in the jungle and working on community project at a local school. In October/November 2018, I led an expedition to Everest Base Camp, and having dealt with 2 emergency helicopter rescues and a number of team conflicts, I now run talks on Leadership Lessons from Everest Base Camp, aimed at corporate leaders. In 2017, I led 5 weeks of expeditions in the Arctic, leading teams of trekkers in temperatures of minus 27 degrees, camping on frozen lakes and pulling our kit in sleds behind us.
I have a degree in Psychology, the CIPD Diploma in Human Resource Development, I'm an accredited NLP Master Practitioner and qualified Summer Mountain Leader. I am also one of only a few women to hold the Winter Mountain Leader qualification, taking people on adventures in the wilderness of Scotland in all weathers.
Isobel McFarland | Care
After graduating from University College London with a 2:1 in English Literature, I went to work at the advertising agency Karmarama.
Having built up a wide range of experience in PR during my time at university, I was very excited to be working as a Junior Account Executive across of number of high-profile clients. However, during the year I developed a strong interest in technology and understanding the processes behind it. This led me to securing a coveted job as a Junior Data Analyst at the rapidly growing start-up, Human Theory. I had no technical expertise, and initially found the thought of coding terrifying, yet I pushed past obstacles and taught myself code in my spare time. Through hard work and perseverance, I was able to prove that you don’t need to be from a scientific background to work in a technical role. Interestingly, I found that creativity, my original strength, is key to becoming a successful technical analyst.
Over the last few years, my journey across industries opened my eyes to problems all around me. One in particular captured my passion, both personally and technically - loneliness in the elderly population. I went on to found Care - a platform that aims to eradicate social isolation by making access to local events quick and easy. I am the first to create a single platform that compiles elderly-focused events in one place, and I believe this is the key to tackling societal loneliness. I am also a regular volunteer at the elderly charity North London Cares, in order to make sure my work with Care continues to stay relevant to my target market. Taking this on whilst managing a change of industry and learning a whole new skill set has not been easy, but it has been an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience.
Angelica Malin | About Time Magazine
Angelica Malin is an entrepreneur, podcast host and the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of About Time Magazine, one of the UK’s most popular lifestyle websites.
Since launching About Time in 2014, Angelica has grown the magazine’s monthly readership to 85,000 and social following to more than 100,000.
It was recently featured among the top 50 female-founded companies in London. A regular commentator on female entrepreneurship, female empowerment, and the future of work, Angelica also hosts the “Work It” and “Work in Progress” podcasts, interviewing some of the most successful CEOs in the UK today. In 2019 Angelica launched the About Time Academy, whose first guests include Deliciously Ella and Daisy Buchanan.
Helen Rees | Marwell Wildlife
I have been PA to the Chief Executive at Marwell Wildlife since March 2011.
A music graduate of Southampton University, I began my career in 1994 as an Arts Administrator working in local authorities and arts centres in Hampshire before securing a PA role at Southern Arts (the regional arts funding body) where I spent 4 years supporting the Local Authorities and Education teams. I then became Project Manager at Portsmouth-based Music Fusion, one of the first lottery-funded Youth Music Action Zones in the country.
Taking a couple of breaks to look after my young family, I returned to work part-time as PA to the Head of Health at the Audit Commission for 6 years, before the full-time Marwell role enticed me away from the public sector into the charity sector (not to mention the zoo industry!) for the first time.
My role at Marwell includes providing all aspects of PA support to the Chief Executive and Director of Conservation, as well as to the Chairman and Board of Trustees (including several sub-committees). In 2018 I took on responsibility for our Reception team from another department, transforming their integral role within the organisation & supporting them as valued members of staff. I constantly seek to add value to my role, and this is described in the 'significant achievements / contributions' section below.
In 2015 I founded the South Hampshire PA Network, which is described in the 'helping others' section below.
In October 2015 I was selected as one of just 6 finalists in Executive PA Magazine’s PA of the Year Awards, and in November of the same year I won SecsintheCity’s Social Media PA of the Year Award. These accolades have also resulted in my being asked to write blog articles and take part in online interviews for various PA industry websites and magazines. I recently embarked on public speaking engagements too, at PA training & network events, leading the #OneProfessionOneVoice Choir at ExecSecLive conferences around the world, and speaking about PA networks and the PA career pathway for Hays, Vonlanthen, regional PA networks and Hemsley Fraser. I was a founder member of EPAA’s Regional Advisory Board when EPAA launched in 2017, a voluntary role I held for 2 years.
In my spare time I am a keen (not very fast!) runner, I sing and play piano, and tend an allotment growing my own produce for home cooking.
Paula Moio | Time Family Office
Paula Moio is a self-made, future-focused professional, who truly embraces her passion, advocating for change of perceptions and recognition of the PA/EA role.
Works tirelessly alongside a like-minded global network of professionals to raise the profile of the Admin Profession in today’s demanding market, and who are determined to break barriers.
Bestowed with a BBC News Award for her outstanding contribution to BBC News/ BBC World Service in 2013, where she has worked as PA at executive/Board level for 15 years.
In 2017 and 2018 is shortlisted for the We Are the City, Rising Star Award 2017 for the EA-PA category – “the award celebrates 100 individual female contributors that represent the leaders and role models of tomorrow.
In 2018 it receives the prize 'Star Award', granted by LIIFTEFFECTS.org to ordinary individuals around the world who have made a difference in the lives of others - inspiring and motivating them to become better versions of themselves.
Paula currently works as a C-Suite Bilingual-Concierge EA, at an international company in the Finance industry, where she had been headhunted on LinkedIn. She took the leap of faith and has been successfully working there since January 2016.